nd are
not as strong as you were. Let me try. I can swim like a fish; you
have often seen me in rough water as well as in smooth. It won't matter
to any one if I am drowned."

"Won't it though! What would Aunt Sally say if I was to go back without
you, Ned?" exclaimed the lieutenant. "I should never be able to look
her in the face again."

"But I'll do my best not to come to harm," said Edward; "and you can
haul me back if I cannot make my way through the breakers."

"Let me go, massa," cried Tom, rapidly throwing off his clothes, and
beginning, without further ado, to fasten the rope round his own waist.
"Jis see him tight--not a slip-knot, massa. Tom Baraka swim tro' worse
seas dan dis on coast ob Africa, as you know. Stick de oar in de sand.
Tie de rope to it, Massa Pack; you pay out, and off him go."

And before the lieutenant or Ned had time to speak another word, the
black had plunged into the foaming seas, dragging out the rope which the
lieutenant quickly uncoiled. His dark head and back could be
distinguished amid the surging foam, as he made his way through the
breakers for some distance, when a huge wave rolling in beat him back
almost to the beach. The lieutenant hauled in the rope, fearing that
Tom's legs might be entangled, but the brave black again sprang forward.
He had, however, another danger besides the sea to encounter. Already
broken spars, planks, and masses of timber, with bales of all sorts,
were being hurled on shore, and a blow from some heavy piece of wreck
might in an instant disable him. It seemed useless indeed to proceed
further; not a human being was likely to have remained alive on the
shattered wreck. Probably the larger number were drowned when the boat
was upset. Another sea, still fiercer than the former, rushing on with
a loud roar, again drove Tom back.

"We must haul in the rope," cried the lieutenant. "I cannot let the
brave fellow further risk his life."

But once more it was found that Tom was dragging out the rope.

"I heard a cry, and I fancy I see some one not far from. Tom,"
exclaimed Edward. "Yes, yes! he is making towards the man. Ah, I fear
he has missed him; no, he has hold of him. Haul away, uncle, haul away;
let me go and help him, there's rope enough to spare," and Ned, securing
the slack end of the rope under his arms and seizing the spare oar,
dashed forward in time to grasp the man just as the black, exhausted by
his exertions, was on the